quartic formula∗

djao†
2013-03-21 13:14:55

The four roots r1 , r2 , r3 , r4 of a quartic polynomial equation x4 + ax3 + bx2 +

cx + d = 0 are given by
v
u
1
u
−a 1 u a2 2b 2 3 (b2 − 3ac + 12d)
r1 = − u − + 
4 2t 4
u 3 q
3
3 2b3 − 9abc + 27c2 + 27a2 d − 72bd + −4(b2 − 3ac + 12d) + (2b3 − 9abc + 27

v
u
1
u
−a 1 u a2 2b 2 3 (b2 − 3ac + 12d)
r2 = − u − +
4 2u
t4 3  q
3
3 2b − 9abc + 27c + 27a d − 72bd + −4(b2 − 3ac + 12d) + (2b3 − 9abc + 27
3 2 2

v
u
1
u
−a 1 u a2 2b 2 3 (b2 − 3ac + 12d)
r3 = + u − + 
4 2t 4
u 3 q
3
3 2b3 − 9abc + 27c2 + 27a2 d − 72bd + −4(b2 − 3ac + 12d) + (2b3 − 9abc + 27

v
u
1
u
−a 1 u a2 2b 2 3 (b2 − 3ac + 12d)
r4 = + u − +
4 2u
t4 3  q
3
3 2b − 9abc + 27c + 27a d − 72bd + −4(b2 − 3ac + 12d) + (2b3 − 9abc + 27
3 2 2

The formulas for the roots are much too unwieldy to be used for solving
quartic equations by radicals, even with the help of a computer. A practical
algorithm for solving quartic equations by radicals is given in the concluding
paragraph of the Galois-theoretic derivation of the quartic formula.
∗ hQuarticFormulai created: h2013-03-21i by: hdjaoi version: h31525i Privacy setting:
h1i hTheoremi h12D10i
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